2017 ANNUAL REPORT A Message from the President 1 About the
POLICY PROGRAMS Calendar of Events 2 Policy Conferences 6 Eric M. Warburg Chapters 7
PROGRAMS FOR THE SUCCESSOR GENERATION The American Council on Germany is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit American-German Young Leaders Conference 10 Fellowships 13 organization that was founded in 1952 to strengthen German-American relations. Leadership Missions 14 Today, the ACG works across generations to provide a deeper, more nuanced understanding about Germany, Europe, and the importance of the transatlantic MARKING 65 YEARS partnership. Through a range of programs and activities, the ACG addresses the OF STRENGTHENING 15 TRANSATLANTIC DIALOGUE most pressing economic, political, and social challenges of the day to ensure better mutual understanding. PARTNERS IN PROMOTING The ACG’s programs and activities are aimed at reaching a broad range of individuals TRANSATLANTIC UNDERSTANDING Corporate and Foundation Support 18 to strengthen German-American relations and deepen the U.S.-European partnership. Individual Support 19 This is achieved through a combination of events and outreach designed to reach Co-Sponsors and Collaborating Organizations 20 different audiences on both sides of the Atlantic to make sure they are better informed about transatlantic issues. WHO WE ARE Officers, Directors, and Staff 21 The Council is committed to: Forging Mutual Understanding of Tomorrow’s Challenges The ACG equips opinion leaders and decision-makers in a variety of fields with ideas and perspectives on important political, economic, and social developments on both sides of the Atlantic and around the world. The Council’s policy discussions, conferences, and other programs engage multipliers from nongovernmental organizations, government, business, academia, the military, and media on both sides of the Atlantic. On issues such as environmental sustainability, trade relations, security policy, and urban development, to name just a few, the ACG provides a forum to examine challenges facing our societies Vision and to propose possible strategies and collaborative solutions for the future. Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders The American Council on Germany The ACG invests in the future of the transatlantic relationship by helping the next (ACG) is the leading U.S.-based generation of leaders in Germany and the United States learn about this indispensable partnership, exchange best practices, and build networks across the Atlantic. The forum for strengthening German- American-German Young Leaders Conferences, fellowships, and leadership missions American relations. It delivers a deep bring together the next generation of German and American academics, journalists, and other professionals from diverse fields to deepen their understanding of and nuanced understanding of why transatlantic issues while forging lasting bonds with one another. Germany matters, because the only Addressing Global Issues Nationwide The ACG recognizes the importance of presenting global issues not only to way to understand contemporary policymakers in Washington, DC, and business leaders in New York, but also to Europe is to understand Germany’s decision-makers and practitioners at the local level in communities across the United States. Through its 21 Eric M. Warburg Chapters, the ACG provides its members and role within Europe and around the general public with opportunities to engage with their counterparts in Germany the world. And, the only way to to address the most pressing economic, political, and social issues on the transatlantic agenda that are affecting their communities. understand contemporary Germany is Informing Members and the Community at Large to put it in a European context. The ACG keeps its members and friends informed through a range of programs, activities, and updates, including its weekly news digest, Hot Topics Calls, and podcasts. In addition, the Council reaches across generations, sectors, and regional boundaries to inform the community at large about important issues influencing the transatlantic partnership. 2 n Strengthening Transatlantic Dialogue Much as the world was coming to terms with a new world order in the 1950s following the devastation of two world wars, today the United States and a unified Germany face a global environment with a host of domestic and foreign challenges. Dr. Steven E. Sokol ACG President
A Message from the President In the early 1950s, a small group of women and men had the foresight have participated in the American-German Young Leaders Conference to create an organization dedicated to promoting transatlantic relations since its inception, including the newly minted German Consul General and to changing the perception of Germany in the United States after in New York, David Gill. The ACG has also supported the work of more the first half of the 20th century. Although the world has changed than 1,100 fellows who have traveled across the Atlantic to exchange considerably since then, the role the American Council on Germany plays best practices, learn, and conduct research. today to strengthen ties across the Atlantic is more important than ever. 2017 saw not only the ACG’s 65th anniversary but also the 25th In January 2017, almost exactly 65 years after its founding, the ACG anniversary both of our formalized national outreach through a network kicked off the year with a discussion with the German Permanent of 21 Eric M. Warburg Chapters and the John J. McCloy Awards Dinner. Representative to the United Nations. Ambassador Harald Braun talked The ACG honored Wolfgang Kirsch, the head of DZ BANK, with a McCloy about the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of today’s Award for supporting a strong transatlantic alliance, as well as the world. In many senses, 2017 epitomized the uncertainty of this era. A ACG’s work. At the dinner, Mr. Kirsch announced the launch of a new new U.S. President took office in a divided nation following one of the fellowship focused on deepening understanding of the global economy most divisive election campaigns in modern history. At the same time, in a transatlantic context. The ACG’s outgoing Chairman, Ambassador many Europeans looked ahead to the year’s elections at the state and Robert M. Kimmitt, was honored with the 2017 Leadership Award national level across the continent with trepidation given the rise of for his steadfast roles as “a dedicated Chairman and a passionate populism and the polarization of politics. With the election results in transatlanticist,” as Chancellor Merkel described him in a letter read the Netherlands, France, and even Germany, Europe largely dodged a at the dinner. populist bullet. However, the ascendancy of the Alternative for Germany In January 2018, after nearly seven years as the ACG’s indefatigable (AfD) to the Bundestag and the political wrangling to form a new Chairman, Ambassador Kimmitt formally passed the baton to government caused additional angst. Ambassador John B. Emerson, Vice Chairman at Capital Group It is fair to say that in 2017 both the United States and the European International. Ambassador Kimmitt had served as U.S. Ambassador to Union, as well as individual member states, were inward-looking. The Germany from 1991 to 1993, and his successor as ACG Chairman served “America First” rhetoric in the United States and the preoccupation with in this same role from 2013 to 2017. Ambassador Emerson previously elections in Europe and coalition-building in Europe were impediments addressed ACG audiences on various occasions and had traveled to to a vibrant and dynamic transatlantic partnership. Yet, at the end of Germany in 1988 on an ACG Political Exchange Fellowship. The ACG is the year it appeared as though we had come full circle. At an ACG event extremely grateful to Ambassador Kimmitt for his committed service, in December, the new German Permanent Representative to the UN – and is very pleased to work with Ambassador Emerson in this new and former National Security Advisor to the Chancellor – Ambassador capacity. Christoph Heusgen, and the President of the Council on Foreign Much as the world was coming to terms with a new world order in the Relations, Richard Haass, discussed the future of multilateralism in light 1950s following the devastation of two world wars, today the United of today’s global challenges. Together they contended – as did other States and a unified Germany face a global environment with a host of speakers over the course of the year – that the transatlantic relationship domestic and foreign challenges. In its 65-plus-year history, the ACG has is indispensable in meeting common challenges in a complex global been gratified to invest in the future of the transatlantic relationship by environment. analyzing these challenges, building strong networks, and cultivating In addition to holding almost 50 policy discussions in New York City new generations of transatlanticists. Together with you, we will keep and Washington, DC, during the year, the Council continued its newer strengthening one of the most important bilateral relationships in the initiatives to respond to current developments, including its Hot Topics world today. conference calls, podcasts, and weekly news digest. Through the ACG’s efforts to cultivate future transatlanticists, more than 1,000 rising stars March 2018
20172017 ANNUALANNUAL REPORTREPORT n n 31 Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, former President of the World Bank and a former Speakers Christopher M. Schroeder (1991 Young Leader), an internet entrepreneur, ACG Board member, keynote speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Members investor, and ACG Board member, and Dr. Robin Mishra (2005 YL), Minister-Counselor and Head of the Science and Technology Section at the German Embassy, with (All captions are left to right unless indicated otherwise.) moderator Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President of the American Council on Germany Policy Programs 2017 Calendar of Events TRANSATLANTIC GLOBAL AGENDA SERIES The Transatlantic Global Agenda Series, which was launched in Launched in 2015, the Political Salon series brings together a diverse 2011, gives ACG members and friends access to policymakers and group of younger and mid-career professionals for informal, open other thought leaders to delve into global issues that have an impact discussions on a range of current political, economic, and social on the transatlantic partnership. Through 2017, the program was topics in an increasingly interconnected global environment, with organized by the Council in cooperation with American Friends of an emphasis on issues of concern for the transatlantic agenda. Bucerius, and the events were hosted by Alston & Bird LLP. Speakers share brief remarks and engage in a dynamic discussion with participants. Each salon includes refreshments and networking HOT TOPICS CALLS opportunities. The ACG is grateful for the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Hot Topics Calls connect ACG members and friends on a conference support of the Political Salon and other programs. call with experts and officials who share their insights on the latest headlines.
January 12 – Political Salon withSimon Book (2016 Kellen February 18 – Breakfast Briefing on “Challenges and Choices: Fellow), journalist at WirtschaftsWoche, on “Is TTIP Dead? Priorities for the Transatlantic Partnership” at the Munich Security The Future of Transatlantic Trade,” held in cooperation Conference featuring General David Petraeus, former Director of with Cultural Vistas the CIA, and Bundestag member Dr. Norbert Röttgen (CDU), held in cooperation with the American Institute for Contemporary January 25 – Discussion and luncheon with Ambassador Harald German Studies (AICGS) Braun, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, on “Governing in Uncertain Times: New Leadership in the United February 27 – Discussion and luncheon with Dr. Jürgen Rüttgers, States and at the United Nations” former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and former German Federal Minister for Education, Science, Research, and January 31 – Breakfast Briefing withGeneral Michael Hayden, Principal at the Chertoff Group and former Director of the Central Technology, on “Germany in the Super Election Year 2017: Implications Intelligence Agency (CIA), on “The Transatlantic Partnership in an for Germany’s Standing in Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship,” Age of Terrorism and Tectonic Shifts” in Washington, DC, hosted hosted by Dentons US LLP by Volkswagen Group of America March 14 – Breakfast Briefing withUrsula Groden-Kranich, member of the German Bundestag (CDU), on “Efforts at the UN February 3 – Hot Topics Call with Dr. Sergey Lagodinsky, Head of the EU/North America Department at the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and in Germany to Promote Gender Equity in a Changing Work in Berlin, on rising populism, growing political polarization, and Environment,” held in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer- elections in Europe, specifically Germany Stiftung – , featuring a keynote February 9 – Discussion and reception withDr. Johannes Beermann, March 29 Annual Meeting of the Members member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, on address by Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, former President of the “The Euro Area: The Current Economic Situation and the Ongoing World Bank and a former ACG Board member, on “Five American Foreign Need for Institutional Reforms,” hosted by Dentons US LLP Policy Traditions: How Does President Trump’s Approach Stack Up?”
42 n Strengthening Transatlantic DialogueDialogue April 7 – Discussion and luncheon with Dr. Wade Jacoby, Professor Berlin, on “Public Opinion and the Politics of Global Engagement: of Political Science at Brigham Young University, andDr. Harold Transatlantic Attitudes Toward Open Borders and International James, Claude and Lore Kelly Professor in European Studies at Cooperation,” hosted by CMS. Tax. Law the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at May 22 – Discussion and dinner with Christian Schmidt, German Princeton University, moderated by Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, held in cooperation with Affairs Columnist for theFinancial Times, held in cooperation with the German Embassy in Washington, DC the Transatlantic Academy and hosted by PwC Strategy& May 25 – Discussion and luncheon with Matthias Machnig, State April 10 – Discussion and luncheon with Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Vice President of the European Parliament, on “Europe’s on “Transatlantic Economic Relations: Current Challenges and Superwahljahr: New Challenges for Europe?” hosted by Alston Perspectives,” hosted by DZ BANK AG & Bird LLP May 26 – Garrick Utley Memorial Lecture on Global Media Issues – Discussion and luncheon with , May 4 Dr. Joachim Würmeling with Tom Buhrow, Director General of Westdeutscher Rundfunk Executive Board member of the Deutsche Bundesbank, on “How (WDR), and Jörg Schöneborn, Television Director at WDR and Stable Is Europe? A Stock-Taking of the Latest Developments in Television Film Coordinator at ARD, on “Covering Politics in a ‘Post- Politics and Financial Markets,” hosted by Morgan Stanley Foundation Truth’ World: European Elections, Populism, and Fake News” & Endowment Services June 6 – Political Salon withThorsten Frei, member of the May 4 – Political Salon withMatthias Meis, Head of the Bundestag (CDU/CSU), on “German Approaches to Crisis Strategic Planning and Management Division of the Federal Prevention and the Marshall Plan for Africa,” held in cooperation Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on “Taking on Development Policy in Light of Today’s Challenges: Germany, the United Nations, and Multilateral Organizations,” June 8 – Reception for Young Leader alumni in San Francisco with held in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Dr. Stefan Schlueter, German Consul General in San Francisco, at his Residence May 16-17 – Annual German-American Conference with Atlantik- Brücke in Berlin on “Finding Common Ground: Confronting Challenges June 9 – Discussion and luncheon as part of the Transatlantic and Setting Priorities for Europe and the United States,” held in Global Agenda Series with Max Gruenig, President of Ecologic cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office Institute US, on “Post-Carbon Cities of Tomorrow: Lessons in Urban Sustainability,” held in cooperation with American Friends of Bucerius May 17 – Young Leader alumni event in Berlin with Gordon and hosted by Alston & Bird LLP Repinski, reporter at Der Spiegel; Atika Shubert, Senior International Correspondent at CNN; and Anton Troianovski (2015 YL), Germany June 14 – Political Salon withSouad Mekhennet, Washington Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal, moderated by journalist Post correspondent and author of I Was Told to Come Alone: Ali Aslan (2010 YL), on “Democracy Under Threat? Public Discourse My Journey Behind the Lines of Jihad, on “Understanding the and Political Culture in a Changing Media Environment,” held in Global World of Jihad,” held in cooperation with the Konrad- cooperation with Atlantik-Brücke and hosted by Vodafone Adenauer-Stiftung May 18 – Discussion and reception in Berlin withDr. James Bell, June 22 – 25th Annual John J. McCloy Awards Dinner, honoring Vice President of Global Strategy at Pew Research, and Jan Techau Wolfgang Kirsch, Chief Executive Officer of DZ BANK AG, with (Young Leaders Study Group on the Future of Europe), Director a special award presentation to Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt of the Richard C. Holbrooke Forum at the American Academy in at the conclusion of his ACG Chairmanship CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 McCloy Awards Dinner Honors DZ BANK CEO and ACG Chairman
Three hundred people gathered for the American Council on Germany’s 25th annual McCloy Awards Dinner in New York City on June 22, 2017, to honor Wolfgang Kirsch, Chief Executive Officer of DZ BANK AG, and Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt, Chairman of the ACG, for their committed work to strengthen transatlantic cooperation. ACG Board member Tammy S. Murphy of Murphy Endeavors underlined the importance of the ACG’s work at this critical time for the transatlantic relationship. Ambassador Philip D. Murphy, then the Democratic candidate for New Jersey Governor, presented the McCloy Award to Mr. Kirsch and the Leadership Award to Ambassador Kimmitt.Ambassador Peter Wittig, German Ambassador to the United States, commented on the role of the ACG and the importance of the bilateral relationship and also read a letter from Chancellor Merkel. EconomistDavid R. ACG President Dr. Steven E. Sokol; ACG Chairman Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt, recipient of the 2017 Leadership Award; ACG Malpass, then President Trump’s nominee for Undersecretary for International Affairs Board member Tammy S. Murphy of Murphy Endeavors; Wolfgang at the Department of the Treasury, shared a letter from the President. As part of the Kirsch, Chief Executive Officer of DZ BANK AG, recipient of the 2017 Council’s 65th-anniversary celebration, ACG PresidentDr. Steven E. Sokol discussed McCloy Award; and Ambassador Philip D. Murphy, then New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate (Photo by Clark Jones) the Council’s work to promote transatlantic ties through the years – and going forward.
2017 ANNUAL REPORT n 53 September 25 – Hot Topics Call with Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany, on the results of the German election September 25 – Panel discussion with Dr. Sheri Berman, Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and Columbia University; Thomas Jahn, New York Correspondent at Handelsblatt; and Dr. Christian Martin, Professor of European and Mediterranean Studies and Max Weber Visiting Chair in German and European Studies at New York University, moderated by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President of the American Council on Germany, on “After the German Federal Election: Analyzing the Results and Looking Ahead,” held in cooperation with Deutsches Haus at NYU, NYU’s Center for European and Mediterranean Studies, the CUNY European Speaker Dr. Joachim Würmeling, Executive Board member of the Deutsche Union Studies Center, and the CUNY Ralph Bunche Institute for Bundesbank International Studies October 5 – Discussion and reception withNico Lange, Director of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 the Washington Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and Jeffrey June 21 – Discussion and luncheon with Bruce Stokes, Director of Rathke, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Europe Program at Global Economic Attitudes at the Pew Research Center, on “The the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), on “Parsing Favorability Factor: The Global View of the EU, Brexit, and the Germany’s Election Results and Coalition Negotiations,” held in Waning Popularity of the U.S.,” hosted by Alston & Bird LLP cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung July 30-August 4 – American-German Young Leaders Conference on October 9-12 – Transatlantic Entrepreneur Partnership (TEP) “Walls or Bridges? The Transatlantic Relationship in Turbulent Times” Conference on “Smart Urban Future: Data and Development,” held in Munich and Berlin in cooperation with Berlin Partner, the German Consulate General in New York, and New York International September 6 – Goldman Sachs and Handelsblatt live talk with Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman October 11 – Breakfast Briefing with Christian Rickerts, Berlin State Sachs Group, Inc. Secretary for Economic Affairs, Energy, and Public Enterprises, on “Lessons Learned from Berlin’s Innovation and Digital September 18 – Hot Topics Call with Christopher Cermak, Editor Transformation,” hosted by DZ BANK AG at Handelsblatt Global, on the upcoming elections in Germany October 13 – Discussion and luncheon with Ambassador Thomas – Breakfast Briefing with (1992 Young Leader), September 19 David Gill Matussek, former senior German diplomat and Senior Advisor Consul General of Germany in New York, on “Germany: Final Countdown at Flint Global in Berlin, on “Three Elections and a Brexit: The to the Elections,” sponsored by DZ BANK AG Unraveling of Europe?” hosted by PwC Strategy& – September 22 Transatlantic Entrepreneur Partnership (TEP) October 16 – Hot Topics Call with Andreas Kluth, Editor-in-Chief of meeting with Berlin startups at Berlin Partner Handelsblatt Global, on the election results in Lower Saxony, as well September 23-October 4 – McCloy Leadership Mission on Urban as German and European politics to Berlin, Cologne, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Affairs and Sustainability October 16 – Discussion and reception withDr. Robin Mishra and Mannheim (2005 Young Leader), Minister-Counselor and Head of the Science and September 24 – Germany Decides: Election Watch Party, held in Technology Section at the German Embassy, and ACG Board member cooperation with the Goethe-Institut, the German Consulate General Christopher M. Schroeder (1991 YL), an internet entrepreneur in New York, and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United and investor, on “Digitalization and the Future of Work,” held in Nations cooperation with Atlantik-Brücke and hosted by Dentons US LLP
Speaker David Gill (1992 Young Leader), Consul General of Germany in New York, Panelists Thomas Jahn, New York Correspondent at Handelsblatt, and Dr. Sheri at Germany Decides: Election Watch Party Berman, Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and Columbia University, together with moderator Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President of the American Council on Germany
64 n Strengthening TransatlanticTransatlantic Dialogue Dialogue Speakers Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt, Chairman of the American Council on Germany; to the United Nations, and Dr. Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Captain Joseph Z. Wells (2010 Young Leader), Interagency Fellow in the Office of Relations China & Mongolian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State; Georgiana Cavendish (2015 YL), Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State; Felix K. Chang (2002 YL), Chief Strategy Officer at DecisionQ; Major Jay Alan Zwirblis (2016 YL), Strategist at the U.S. Army; and Jessica Altschul Nigro (2010 YL), Manager of Outreach and Innovation Policy at Daimler North America Corp., at the Residence of German Ambassador to the United States Peter Wittig
October 20 – Discussion and luncheon with Klaus-Dieter November 22 – Hot Topics Call with Dr. Christoph von Marschall Frankenberger, Foreign Editor at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, (1999 Kellen Fellow), Chief Diplomatic Correspondent forDer on “The Merkel Regime – Germany After the Election,” hosted Tagesspiegel and Helmut Schmidt Fellow of the ZEIT Foundation and by NORD/LB the German Marshall Fund of the United States, on what went wrong in the coalition talks and what this means for Angela Merkel and October 27 – Discussion and luncheon as part of the Transatlantic Germany Global Agenda Series with Dr. Angela Stent (1982 Young Leader), Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies November 27 – Discussion and reception withDr. Andreas Nick, and Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown member of the German Bundestag (CDU/CSU), on “New Priorities? University, on “Russia and the West: What’s Next?” held in cooperation Germany’s UN Policy After the Elections,” held in cooperation with with American Friends of Bucerius and hosted by Alston & Bird LLP the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung October 30 – Reception for the ACG Board of Directors, Young Leader November 30 – Panel discussion with Dr. Sheri Berman, Professor of alumni, and corporate members with Ambassador Peter Wittig, German Political Science at Barnard College and Columbia University;Thomas Ambassador to the United States, at his Residence in Washington, DC Jahn, New York Correspondent at Handelsblatt; and Dr. Christian , Professor of European and Mediterranean Studies and November 2 – Political Salon withChristopher Cermak, Editor Martin at Handelsblatt Global, on “Polarization, Populism, and Politics in Max Weber Visiting Chair in German and European Studies at New Germany and the United States: A Comparative Analysis,” held in York University, moderated by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President of the cooperation with Deutsches Haus at NYU American Council on Germany, on “The End of Jamaica, the End of Merkel? Analyzing What Happened and Predicting What Lies Ahead,” November 10 – Discussion and luncheon with Dr. Guido Steinberg, held in cooperation with Deutsches Haus at NYU and NYU’s Center Senior Associate for the Middle East and Africa at Stiftung for European and Mediterranean Studies Wissenschaft und Politik (the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP), on “The Evolution of International Terrorism December 14 – Hot Topics Call with Jacob Poushter, Senior and Its Domestic Impact,” held in cooperation with the Global Center Researcher at the Pew Research Center, on American and German on Cooperative Security views of the bilateral relationship – Discussion and reception with November 11-22 – McCloy Leadership Mission on Agriculture, December 18 Ambassador , Permanent Representative of Germany to the Food Security, and Resource Scarcity to Alabama and Georgia, Christoph Heusgen Illinois and Indiana, and Washington, DC, and Virginia United Nations, andDr. Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, moderated byFriedrich Merz, Chairman of November 16 – Discussion and luncheon with Jürgen Hardt, member Atlantik-Brücke and Senior Counsel at Mayer Brown LLP, on “The End of the German Bundestag (CDU), Foreign Policy Spokesman of the of Multilateralism? Reflecting on 2017 and Looking Ahead to 2018,” CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group, and Coordinator of Transatlantic held in cooperation with Atlantik-Brücke and the Permanent Mission Cooperation at the Federal Foreign Office, on “ ‘We Have to Keep of Germany to the United Nations Talking!’ Transatlantic Relations in an Age of Disruption,” sponsored by DZ BANK AG December 21 – Hot Topics Call with Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller, Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center November 17 – Discussion and luncheon with Tim Wenniges for the United States and Europe, on what the new National Security (2014 Young Leader), Head of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Office Strategy means for the transatlantic relationship in Shanghai, on “China’s Role in the World After the 19th Party Congress,” held in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
2017 ANNUAL REPORT n 57 Policy Conferences German-American Conference: “Finding Common Ground: Confronting Challenges and Setting Priorities for Europe and the United States” May 16-17, 2017 • Berlin The American Council on Germany and Atlantik-Brücke hosted the fifth annual German-American Conference in Berlin, “Finding Common Ground: Confronting Challenges and Setting Priorities for Europe and the United States,” on May 16 and 17 at the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. More than 400 people attended the conference, which covered topics ranging from foreign policy to trade agreements, and from national security to the rise of populism. Highlights from the conference included a keynote address by German Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on the enduring importance Keynote speaker Sigmar Gabriel, German Federal Foreign Minister (Photo by Jan of the Marshall Plan and the future of transatlantic relations, and an Zappner/Raum 11) address by Director of National Intelligence , Senator Dan Coats International Affairs Columnist atPolitico ; Ambassador Douglas former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, who spoke about the Trump Lute, Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International administration’s policies on national security. Also, at a small dinner, Affairs at Harvard University and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO; , former Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile Georg Mascolo, Director of the Joint Investigative Research Group discussed the successes and failures of the Democratic Party during of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR, and WDR German TV and Radio; the 2016 election and the party’s prospects in the midterm elections Ambassador Janusz Reiter, Chairman of the Board of the Centre in 2018. for International Relations in Warsaw and former Polish Ambassador Other prominent speakers included Bundestag members Marieluise to Germany; Alison Smale, Berlin Bureau Chief of the New York Times; Beck and Omid Nouripour (both Alliance 90/The Greens) and Dr. Jens Spahn (CDU/CSU), Parliamentary State Secretary at the Finance Norbert Röttgen (CDU/CSU); John Gilbert, member of the Board Ministry; and Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director of the of Management of Deutsche Post DHL Group; Susan Glasser, Chief McCain Institute and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO.
Transatlantic Entrepreneur Partnership Conference: In keeping with the conference theme of “Smart Urban Future: “Smart Urban Future: Data and Development” Data and Development,” the ACG organized a series of panel October 9-11, 2017 • New York City discussions on October 10 focusing on smart-city technology and policy. The panels covered the challenges and opportunities that Working with Berlin Partner, the German Consulate General in New cities face within digitalization, the use of data, and mobility for social York, and New York International, the American Council on Germany good, among other topics. Panelists included ACG Program Director held the seventh annual Transatlantic Entrepreneur Partnership (TEP) and Digital Strategist Robin Cammarota; Craig Campbell, Special Conference in New York City from October 9 to 11. TEP brings together Advisor in New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics;Janne German and American entrepreneurs and angel investors for meetings Corneil, Principal with Corneil Collaborative;Nicole DuPuis, Principal and site visits to discuss technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, Associate for Urban Innovation for City Solutions at the National and transatlantic expansion for startups. League of Cities;Rachel Haot, Board member of Tech:NYC; Ole Jani, Partner at CMS. Tax. Law in Berlin; Dr. Steven E. Koonin, Director of NYU’s Center of Urban Science and Progress; Brian Langel, Co-Founder of Dash Labs Inc.; Greg Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the New Cities Foundation;Christian Rickerts, Berlin State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Energy, and Public Enterprises;Jason Whittet, who is responsible for Smart Cities Business Development at AT&T; and Jessica Wurwarg (2016 McCloy Fellow), Director of Energy Management and Sustainability at New York City’s Department of Transportation. In the evening, ACG PresidentDr. Steven E. Sokol moderated a panel discussion on urban mobility with Stefan Knupfer, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Dr. Daniel Ramot, CEO and Co-Founder of Via. The startups that participated in the conference also had the opportunity to engage in dialogue on the most recent developments Panelists Brian Langel, Co-Founder of Dash Labs Inc.; Rachel Haot, Board member of Tech:NYC; Janne Corneil, Principal with Corneil Collaborative; and Greg Lindsay, in technology, meet with venture capitalists and angel-fund investors, Senior Fellow at the New Cities Foundation and network with people from both sides of the Atlantic.
86 n Strengthening TransatlanticTransatlantic Dialogue Dialogue S